4. Conclusion

While environmental regulation has evolved from a "patchwork law" to an autonomous body of legislation, partly derived from international treaties and European Union law, with its own code and fundamental principles, it is nonetheless weakened by the profusion of rapidly evolving texts and procedures.

This observation was central to the concerns of the environmental conference held on September 14 and 15, 2012. At the end of the conference, five working themes were identified, including the modernization of environmental law. Without lowering standards, the aim is to simplify environmental rules and procedures, making them clearer and more proportionate to the issues at stake.

The introduction of the environmental authorization system has simplified the procedures applicable to projects subject to ICPE regulations, by combining several applications...